Kickball Rules

Any rule or situation not explained here will default to Major League Baseball rules. These calls will be made at the discretion of the head referee. Their call is final and cannot be disputed.

Player Waiver & Release Form

Every player must compete the Player Registration prior to the first scheduled game of the season. Any team that has not submitted all of their player waivers by that time will have its scheduled games declared a forfeit until all registrations are received. If a player fails to submit their online player registration, all liability and legal issues will be the responsibility of the team captain. FXA Kickball will not be responsible for players that do not submit a player registration.

Players may be listed only on one teams roster per season throughout the league. For a player to be considered playoff eligible (eligible to participate in the playoffs), he/she must be listed on a teams roster and must have played in a minimum of two regular season games for that particular team.

Overview

The Playing Field

Field of play will equal the dimensions of a standard softball field (i.e., with the bases being about 60 feet or 20 paces apart).

Equipment

FXA Kickball will provide field equipment. This will consist of a 10-inch playground ball, bases and cones.

Officials

Games will be officiated by 1 (one) referee who will be scheduled and provided by FXA Kickball. The home plate referee issues all final rulings. Only a team captain or co-captain may dispute a call with the referee. The referee has jurisdiction over the play and may penalize a player, including game ejection, for un-sportsman like conduct. Ejected players may not return to the game and if necessary may be asked to leave the premises.

Participants

All players must be 21 years of age or older. Players may only play on a team on which they are registered. Exception: You may function as a substitute player for another team if they are short a man or woman. This is ONLY valid during the regular season.

FXA reserves the right to suspend any player at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct, violation of any rules, for failure to pay appropriate dues or for being disruptive, without any refund what so ever. Any team wishing to suspend any member for just reasons must do so on their own and provide FXA a written reason as to why. Again, no refunds. At the discretion of FXA, any member suspended may not in the future be allowed to participate in any further FXA events.

Team Rosters

Each team should consist of a minimum of fourteen (14) players and no more than 20 players. A team may not play more than 10 players at a time in the field. Each team is required to have at least 4 females in the field in each inning.

Every player present is required to be in the kicking line up. Every player present is required to play at least one (1) inning in the field. If a team does not have the required minimum number of female players in the fielding lineup, then the team must forfeit.

If a team is short players, they MUST have a catcher & pitcher and then play short in the field.

If a team cannot field at least 6 players (Minimum of 2 Females), they automatically forfeit. Teams no longer have to play down a male fielder if they are short females (with a maximum of 6 males on the field).

Captain Responsibilities

Each team will have one Captain who is charged with:

Making sure that only players registered on their team are participating on their behalf in a game.

Insuring that their players kick in the same order through out the game (if necessary, teams can exchange kicking lineups prior to the game).

Disputing a call on the field and remaining cool at all times.

Making sure everyone on their team understands the rules.

Staying in contact with FXA and attending all required league meetings.

Communicating any changes in regards to scheduling or rules with his/her team.

Ensuring that everyone on his team is eligible to play.

Contacting the league in the event of a forfeit by 2:00 pm.

Any team that forfeits three or more games will be removed from the remaining schedule and not be allowed to participate in any playoff situations. No refunds will be given and a team dropped by the league may, at FXAs discretion, not be allowed to rejoin the next season.

Players on a team must wear same colored t-shirts during all games, chosen before the season begins. Teams are encouraged to be creative with names and t-shirts.

Forfeit Fees

If your team needs to forfeit a game (for whatever reason), please make sure to let us know ASAP via email ([email protected]) or text (703-382-9111).

FXA Kickball has now implemented the following forfeit fees:

$100 within 6 hours of game time

Regulation Game

Games will be 5 or 6 innings or 45 – 50 minutes, whichever comes first and depending on the season and sunset times. Games that have gone past the 6th inning and are tied in score will be scored as a Tie Game. There are no Extra Innings in the Regular Season.

The game will be called in the event of uncooperative weather. The rules for game cancelation are defined by the parks in which we play. FXA will attempt to reschedule any canceled games. If a game is called due to weather and less then 3 complete innings have been played, the game is canceled and will be rescheduled (and replayed starting at 0-0, top of the 1st). If more than 3 full innings have been played, the final score will be the score at the end of the last complete full inning.

Sportsmanship

Players should have no intentional or unwelcome physical contact with opposing players. Doing so will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and it will be at the discretion of the referee to issue warnings or eject offending players. A player must make the referee aware if he or she feels any contact was unwarranted.

Trash talking is permitted as long as it is not cruel, racially motivated, hateful, or a personal attack on another player. The trash talking should only be good natured and shall not be allowed to get out of hand. Threats of physical violence are in no way allowed. The team captain shall ensure that their players behave themselves.

Due to Virginia regulations, consumption of alcohol on the fields is strictly prohibited. If a person is seen consuming alcohol on the field, that persons team immediately forfeits that days game and may, at the discretion of FXA be removed from the league.

Pitching/Catching

The pitcher must plant their foot on the pitching strip as they wind-up to pitch. No running up to the strip to launch a pitch. Pitches must be underhanded. Any side-arm or over-hand pitches will be considered a ball at the discretion of the head umpire. Any portion of the ball must cross over the plate to be considered a strike. The ball may not be more than 6 inches off the ground as it crosses the plate (bouncy). This is at the discretion of the umpire.

The pitcher must stay behind the pitching strip until the ball is kicked. Failure to do so results in a ball. All infielders must stay behind the imaginary line stretching from designated cones lined on the field until the ball is kicked. The cones will be approximately 10 feet from home plate. Failure to do so results in a ball.

Catching

The catcher must start behind the kicker until the ball is kicked. The catcher shall not interfere with the kicker in any way. Failure to abide by this rule results in a ball.

Strikes

The ball must travel over home plate and bounce below 6 inches. As long as any part of the ball passes through the strike zone, the ball is a strike. A kick occurring in front of home plate is a foul (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out).

Balls

A ball is defined as:

a pitch outside the strike zone

the catcher playing next to or in front of the kicker before the ball is kicked

any field player crossing the line between 1st & 3rd base. May be designated by cones on the field

Three (3) balls is a walk, and kicker is awarded 1st base.

Kicking

All kicks must be made by the foot. Any lower leg contact while attempting to kick the ball will be considered a kick regardless of where it strikes the leg or foot.

All kicks must occur at or behind home plate. Both feet must be on or behind home plate at the time the ball is kicked. If one or more feet are in front of home plate at the time the ball is kicked, it is a foul and the kick is called back (if such a kick is caught on the fly, it is an out). A kick must remain within bounds until it crosses past first or third base.

Bunting

Bunting is not allowed. A bunt is defined as a kick that does not travel past the 20 foot line/markers and remain in fair territory. Any kick that does not travel past the 20 foot line/markers will result in a foul.

Kicking Order

Kicking order. Maximum 2 male then 1 female (3 Males cannot kick in a row). If required, females will kick multiple times throughout the kicking order. Males do not take an additional turn throughout the kicking order.

Running

Runners must stay within the base line. Fielders must stay out of the base line unless they are attempting to tag a runner out or catch the ball. Fielders trying to make an out on base may have their foot on base, but must lean out of the base line. First base will have two bases side by side (similar to softball), one for the fielder and one for the runner which should eliminate collisions and injuries. Runners unfairly hindered by any fielder within the base line shall be safe at the base to which they were running.

Neither leading off base, nor stealing a base is allowed. A runner may only move off his/her base after the ball has been kicked and you cant pass the runner in front of you. These are outs.

Hitting a runner with the ball above shoulder level is not allowed. Any runner hit above the shoulders (neck or head) is safe and advances one base. Exceptions: If the runner intentionally uses his head to block the ball. The runner is out. If the runner is ducking, diving or sliding (i.e. attempts to dodge the ball) and is hit in the head or neck because of this, he/she is out.

If a kicked ball is caught on the fly, runners must tag their originating base (on or after the moment the ball is first touched by a fielder) before running to the next base. There is no infield fly rule.

Only one base on an overthrow is allowed to the runner. If there is an overthrow at second base, then this rule does not apply because the ball is still in play. The one base is not automatic and the runner must take the risk of being made out. The one base is only available before the play ends.

Fouls

A foul is defined as:

a kick landing out of bounds. The foul is determined by where the ball lands not how it travels to get there. Remember that if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out

a kick landing inbounds, but traveling out of bounds on its own before reaching first or third base. (Any ball touched by an in-bounds fielder is automatically in play)

a ball that is tipped while being kicked but continues to travel behind the kicker; but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out

a kicker touching (or kicking) the ball twice while on or behind home plate (i.e., in foul territory); but if such a kick is caught on the fly it is an out

Any foul that hits a tree or other outside object is a dead ball and not eligible to be caught for an out. The ball remains a foul.

Three fouls is an out

Ball in Play

Once the pitcher has the ball in control and is within 5 feet of the pitching strip, the play ends. If the runner has passed a base and is moving, they may continue to the next base but are not guaranteed that base.

Playoffs

Single elimination playoffs will begin immediately following the end of the regular season and will typically last 1-2 weeks. After teams have been seeded according to their records, all captains will receive an email with the 1st week of playoff game times roughly 3 days before their game day. Teams will not receive an email for any other weeks of playoffs! It is ALL TEAMS’ responsibility to check the playoff brackets on the league site to find out what time they will be playing the following week if they win. In playoffs it is not uncommon (and in some cases will be necessary) for teams to have more than one game on a given night.

Eligibility

No substitutes will be allowed during playoffs. All players must have signed the waiver by the first week of the season in order to be eligible for playoffs. Playoff eligible teams will be determined on a league by league basis. Teams that have violated the forfeit policy during the course of regular season will not be eligible for playoffs.

Playoff Seeding

Teams are seeded according to winning percentage.

Tie-breaking procedures:

Two teams: head-to-head, total points for, total points against.

Multi-team: total points for, total points against.

To break a two-team tie within a multi team tie, we will use the two-team tiebreaker procedure.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A SOCIAL SPORTS LEAGUE! The only players allowed to communicate with the referees are the captains. Any abuse (verbal or otherwise) of the referees or other players will constitute an immediate ejection from the game. Repeated offenders will be banned from the league. No exceptions.